How do I know a text message asking me to confirm a transaction is from Barclays?

We'll send you a fraud alert by text message if we need to check a suspicious transaction and have a valid UK mobile number for you. You can respond by text to let us know if it’s you making the transaction or to report fraud if you don’t recognise it.

Our alerts will detail the transaction and will ask you to reply only Y or N. They won’t ask for any personal details or security information, and you should never respond to any text asking for this.

We’ll never call you to tell you how to respond to a fraud alert text message.

Texts are free to reply to in the UK and will cost no more than a standard text from other countries.

You could also receive texts to help confirm your identity

To give you greater protection against fraud, the way you pay online is changing.

New rules on payment services mean you’ll sometimes be asked to prove it really is you when making some online purchases.

One of the ways to confirm your identity will be to choose to have a text sent directly to your mobile.

Here’s what to expect when the new verification screen pops up

Choose ‘Receive a code by text message’ and select ‘Next’

You’ll see a new message on the verification screen telling you that a one-time verification code will be sent to your phone

You’ll then receive a text message on your mobile, with the verification code you need to enter into the verification screen